Submarine salvage and recovery apparatus



March 27, 1934. s. LAKE 1,952,080

SUBMARINE SALVAGE AND RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed DGO. 24. 1931 5Sheets-Sheet 1 AFP* 1 ,I O VA:

ITG, I.

' INVENToR.

@MEW 542k.

March 27, 1934.

S. LAKE SUBMARINE lSALVAGE AND RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed Deo. 24. 1931 `5sheets-sheet 2 l VENTOR 27, 1934. 5 LAKE LQS SUBMARINE sALvAGE ANDRECOVERY APARATUS Filed Dec. 24. 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet ZS l VENTOR MM f/eMarch 27, 1934. s@ LAKE i,952,o8o

SUBMARINE SALVAGE AND RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed DSG. 24. 1951 5Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG', 6.

NVENTOR g5 MM 2% March 27, 1934. s. LAKE .1,952,080

SUBIARINE SALVAGE AND RECOVERY APPARATUS Filed Dec. 24. 1931 5Sheets-Sheet 5 I mmm'mnnu manana II I 8 NVENToR.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 PATE cerros SUBMARINE SALVAGE AND RECOVERYAPPARATUS Simon Lake, Milford, Conn. Application December 24, 1931,Serial No. 583,047

14 Claims.

This invention relates to a submarine salvage and recovery apparatus andembodies certain improvements over my previous inventions of a similarnature.

The present improvements show in more detail some of the attachments andtools used in cooperation with my submarine apparatus in performingunder-water work and in recovering sunken or submerged materials.

The purpose of these attachments is to speed up underwater work by poweroperated mechanical means directed from within a submergible apparatusor vessel in which the operator of the various toolsis stationed Yandtherefore not n subject to the hydrostatic pressure of the water,

as he would be if operating outside in the usual diving dress.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention, in the severalfigures of which like parts are similarly designated, Figure lillustrates, in sectional elevation, the submergible portion ofsubmarine salvage and recovery apparatus of the type shown generally inmy co-pending application, Serial No. 571,348, filed October 27, 1931,

r same being shown operating on the sides of sunken ships and depictingthe manner in which some of the tools of the invention may be employed.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation showing the manner of attaching theuniversal extensible tool carrying apparatus to the side of the diverscompartment.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation showing the universal tool-carryingapparatus attached to the side of a sunken ship, and the operation of rcutting through the ships side plating with a circular saw.

Figure 4 is a transverse section through the revolvable head of theuniversal tool-carrying apparatus showing the installation of fourdifferent types of underwater cutting tools.

Figure 5 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional detail view of theelectric torch which is one of the cutting tools shown in small scale inFig. 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the extensible end of theelectric cutting torch.

Figure 7 is an enlarged View of the long arm grab mechanism showingmeans for operating the same.

Figure 8 is a front elevation of a look-out window so constructed as togive a very large eld of vision, and

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now to Fig. 1, A is the access tube to the various observationand working compartments. In the present embodiment I useva dif- (Cl.(i1-69) ferent arrangement of compartments from those of my previousinventions, in that B is an airlock communicating with a passageway Bwhich permits the crew to pass from the surface either to the diversworking compartment C, to the observation compartment D, or to thedecompression compartment E. This is of great importance in work atconsiderable depths as atmospheric pressure may be maintained in theobservation compartment D while the divers are operating through theopen diving door C' at which air pressure must be maintained equal tothe water pressure at the bottom of the compartment to prevent thecompartment from being flooded.

As soon as the time during which it is safe for the divers to work underpressure has expired they may, by the proper manipulation of thewater-tight doors 3, 4, 5 and 6, enter into any of the compartments orascend to the surface without lowering the air pressure in the divingcompartment, thus permitting continuous work to be performed by relaysor" divers.

In shallow waters the divers, after completing their time, could, byentering the air-lock B, close door 4 and reduce the air pressure in theair-lock to atmosphere and enter either the observation compartment Dthrough door 6 or ascend to the surface vessel through door 3.

If, however, the divers have been operating in deep Water, it isessential to their health that they spend a considerable time underpressure before returning to normal atmospheric pressure. In this case,after entering air-lock B they equalize the pressure between theair-lock B and compartment E and then pass through door 5 and entercompartment E where the pressure can be gradually reduced until it issafe for them to reenter the air lock B and return to normal atmosphericpressure. The observers and relief men in Ycompartment D may remain inthat compartment as long as they desire, as a circulation of air, can'bemaintained therein at all times at Substantially normal pressure.

Hydraulicor other pressure cylinders 7 and 8 are provided for openingand closing doors 3 and e, these cylinders being controlled by suitablevalves, not shown, actuated from either side of the respectivecompartment bulkheads, and the pressure fluid being supplied from acentral accumulator through suitable piping, not shown, as is customaryin systems of this nature.

Lookout windows 9 and l0. are arranged in the compartments to give avery large iield of vision, as will be more fully described inconnection with loo F is a universal extensible tool-carrying apparatusattached to the divers compartment at ange 11, as is more clearly shownin Fig. 2 and described with reference thereto.

G is a long-arm grab mechanism for picking up and removing objects at adistance from the divers compartment, as is shown in more detail in Fig.7 and described with reference thereto.

H isa heavypiston rod carried in hydraulic cylinder 12, and suitablepiping and valves connected to the central hydraulic system, not shown,enable this piston rod to be pushed out or drawn in. A water-tightball-and-socket joint 13 carried by the rod H permits a suction disk 14carried thereby to be brought into all-around contact with the side of aship, and then, by withdrawing the water from the space within theflexible lips of the suction disk, through the rnedium of suitablepiping connected to a vacuum tank, not shown, the suction disk may bemade to attach itself and the submerged apparatus to the sunken shipwith great tenacity. This hydraulic and suction grip device issubstantially thesame as those one of which is shown in section in Fig.3. k

I is a working platform and cargo-receiving receptacle attached to thelower end of the divers compartment, and from the platform of this cargoreceiving receptacle, ladders 15, or gang planks 16 may be so suitablydisposed as to enable the divers to reach any desired position on theside of the ship `or to enter the ship through an a at the end of thelong arm G so that light will be reflected down upon the grab and uponthe cargo -to be grappled. Suitable lookout windows located alongsideofthe long arm mechanism will -enable an operator to so extend andoperate the grab as to pick up objects illuminated by the lamp `17 andhaul them from the hold of the ship and fit, but in addition to the sealthus obtained I `may use a cup leather 20 to insure watertightness.

A T` piece 21 is so carried by the male portion of ythe joint that itmay be rotated, a ball bearing between anges 22 and 23 secured to the Tpiece and to the ball joint, respectively, and held in cooperativerelation by locking rings 24 and 25 being provided for this purpose.Four arms, two of which 26 and 27 only are shown, are attached tolockingring 24,- and chains 28 and 29 attached to the ends of these armsare in turn attached to plungers 30 and 3l, which plungers are capableof being drawn inboard by the threaded shafts 32 and 33 when the wheels34 and 35 with hubs threaded on the shafts 32 and 33, are revolved.

It is obvious that by slacking up wheel 35 and taking up on wheel 34,the angular relation of the axis of the T piece 21 will be changed inrelation to the axis of the submergible access tube A, and by slackeningand tightening any one or two of the four plungers, any desired changeof axis may be obtained to secure the T piece and its attachments to theside of a sunken ship. I have shown a ball-and-socket joint 39 andsuction disk 40, attached to flange 38. To flange 37 I may attach theextensible rotatable tool-carrying compartment head J, see Figs. 3 and4, which head contains a motor 41 which through the medium of chains andsprocket wheels and bevel pinions drives the circular saw 43, throughreduction gear box' 42, and its shaft and gearing as clearly shown.

Through the medium of other sprocket wheels and chain and reduction gear44 v(see Fig. 4) I may also revolve the twist drill 45, and suitablefeeding devices common to the art, but not shown, may be attached forfeeding the drill to its Work.

A pair of miter wheels 46 when in mesh, and worm gearing, as shown,revolve crank 47, and through the medium of the connecting rod 48 andguide piece 49, reciprocate the saw 50 to enable it to cut throughplating, as is illustrated in Fig. l.

In operating on the side of a sunken vessel only, the T piece 21 may bedispensed with and the entrance tube 51 directly attached tothe balljoint 18, as is shown in Fig. 1. `In operating in this manner on'theside of a sunken ship, large sections of the side may be out out to formopenings of sucient size to give' ready access to the cargo within thehold so that it may be readily removed without going down through thehatches of the ship.

In Figure 1 the universal extensible tool-carrying apparatus is shownwith the revolvable head extending upward, Whereas in Fig. 3 it is shownextended downward. The rotation of this apparatus is made possible by aninternal toothed ring 5 2 (see Fig. 3) secured to entrance tube 51, withwhich meshesv a pinion 53 revolved by worrn Wheel 54 operated by asuitable Worm the shaft kef which may be rotated by a hand wheel 55,

as shown. This worm wheel is secured in'a bearing bracketv rigidlycarried by the casting 56 which is held in place by a clamp ring 57bolted to a flange 58 on entrance tube 5l and provided between themVwith an appropriate anti-friction bearing. lThe extensible entrance tubeF gives the operator access to the tool-carrying revolvable head J. Inthis extensible tube 59 is a ring piston arranged in an annular cylinderformed between inner entrance tube 60 and an exterior tube 61, thepiston being secured tor an extension tube 62. When fluid under pressureis admitted into the space 63 back of the piston the extension tube 62will be forced outward, and when this pressure is released and the fluidunder pressure is introduced in the space 64 forward ofthe piston theextension tube 62 will be forcedinward. Suitable valves and piping,indicated in part, connect the annular cylinder with the centralhydraulic system and permit this operation as desired.

The inner toothed ring 65, the pinion 66 and its shaft and attached wormwheel 67 and hand Wheel 68 secured in bracket 69 attached to thetool-carrying head J permit of independent rotation of this head.

In Fig. 1, the operation of cutting the side plating of a sunken ship isshown as accomplished by the reciprocating saw 50. To use thereciprocating sawto cut downward, as shown in Fig. 1, the apparatus isturned to carry the head J upward, the hydraulic rams 70 and` 71,carrying in the soft rubber lips of the disks through the medium of pipe74 (see Fig..3) kleading to acentral vacuum system, and the wholeapparatus becomes rigidly attached to the side ofthe sunken ship.

Pipes and 76 enter into cylinder 77 at opposite sides of the piston 78which is secured on the hydraulic ram 70. These pipes enter into casting56 and are connected to the central hydraulic supply system by 4-wayvalve 79. A similar valve and piping are used in connection with therain 71. The head J may now be revolved and the drill 45 centered andstarted, the hydraulic rams being moved inward until the plating isdrilled through, after which the rams are extended, the drill and head Jagain revolved and the reciprocating saw entered through the drilledhole and started, upward cutting of the saw being caused by admission ofiluid under pressure into space 64 whereby the head J is drawn upward.

It is obvious that the circular saw 43 may be brought in contact withthe ships plating and operated in a somewhat similar manner.

If desired, however, I may use a cutting torch 80, an enlarged view ofwhich is shown in Fig. 5, in which a gate valve 81 is secured to theside of head J and provided with a double flanged pipe 82 attached toits inner ange. A tube 83, made of porcelain or other insulatingmaterial, is secured in a reciprocating carrier 84, and passes Yinto theflanged pipe 82, through a cup leather 85. A hollow metallic rod 8S,covered with insulation 87, is carried by a reciprocating head 88,clamped in electrical contact with the rod 86, and current from one poleof a dynamo is passed .into this rod through cable 89, a metalliccontact from the opposite pole being made to the sunken ship in anysuitable manner. A hollow carbon ,90 is threaded into the hollowmetallic conduct-or 86 and carbon 90 are smaller than the insidediameter of the porcelain tube 83 the air may pass down outside of therod and carbon, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 6. l

A threaded rod held in a bearing in the re- -iciprocating head 84 andextending through the upper lange of pipe 82 enables the porcelain tube83 to be projected outside of head J when the gate valve 81 is opened. Y

A similar rod 96 is carried by the reciprocating 'head 88 and enablesthe carbon 90 tobe projected clown through the porcelain tube 83.

This cutting torch is operated in the following manner: The apparatus Fbeing attached to the ship as previously described, the gate valve 81 isopened and the porcelain tube 83 is brought into contact with the shipsplating. Air is now turned on and blows the water away from the circularnozzle formed between the porcelain tube and the hollow carbon point.The carbon is now projected so as to make contact with the ships platingand the electric current is turned on, completing the electric circuitbetween the twopoles of the dynamo, one pole being grounded to the ship,as explained. On slightly withdrawing the carbon from contact with theships plating an arc is formed, and then oxygen under the properpressure is turned on and the ships plates are rapidly cut through bythe-action of the arc. The plates may be cut through in a straight line,or by releasing the vacuum in disk 73 nearest the head J the apparatusmay be rotated by turning hand wheel 55 and the torch will make acircular cut, Vrevolving on ram 71 as a center, the length of radiusbeing controlled by the position of the tube 62 relatively to sleeve 61.Wheny the carbon is consumed, the porcelain tube 83 is retracted, gatevalve 81 closed and the torch unbolted from the flange of the gate valveand a new carbon inserted Without any water entering the head J.

As sunken vessels may lie onvthe bottom with their vertical axes at manydifferent angles, and also lie with their longitudinal axes at manydiiferent angles in relation to the currents, and as it is advisable toanchor the surface vessel with its longitudinal axis in line with thecurrent, it is necessary to be able to place the suction disks at aninfinite variety of angles so that they will make proper contact withthe side, bottom or deck plating of the ship. I, therefore, providemeans for rotating the access tube AWith its chambers, by providing agear ring 97 which is carried between angles 9S and 99 and with whichmeshes a pinion 100 carried on a shaft extending through a stuffing boxin the side of the access tube and having on it a larger spur gear 101which may be rotated by a sanall pinion and crank 102, Four eye boltsare carried by the ring 97 and to these eye bolts are attached lines,two of which 103 and 104, as shown lead to the cross member 105 to whichthe access tube is attached, and the others, not shown, lead to otherlongitudinal members to which the cross member 105 is attached.

These lines permitthe swinging or the access tube A through its ball orswivel joints, but hold the ring from rotating when the pinion 102 islocked. On rotating pinion 102, however, the access tube A may berotated about its axis so as to present the disks 70 and 71 to the sideplating of any sunken ship, and by inserting the T piece 21 andattaching the universal extensible tool-carrying apparatus F to flange37 the holding disks may be attached to any portion of the ship lying ina substantially horizontal plane.

After an opening is cut in the side of the sunken ship the long armgrabbing device G may be brought into use to remove the cargo. ThisgrabbingY device is more clearly .shown in Fig. 7 and comprises a heavyflanged hollow steel casting 106 bolted to one of the side walls of thedivers compartment C and to which another heavy bronze anged cylindricalcasting 107 is. fitted, the latter being capable of rotation withincasting 106. A lstuiiing box gland 108 enables this swivel joint to bemade water-tight. To the inner flange 109 of the member 106 is secured acasting 106' which forms a ball race, and a face plate 110 is bolted tothe cylindrical casting 107, the periphery of this plate 110 beingtoothed to form a spur gear with which meshes a pinion 111 turned by acrank 112, thus enabling the casting 107 to be revolved. I prefertoprovide a ball bearing between the outboard flanges of castings 106and 107, as indicated at 107.

The outer face of casting 107 carries bearings 113 and 114, in which ismounted a cylindrical tube 115 capable of being rotated by means of aWorm wheel 116 and a suitable worm, the shaft of which extends through astung box into the interior of the compartment and may be turned bycrank 117. An arm 118 is secured to the bottom of the tube 115, and thisarm carries a bearing member rv119 in Ywhich another cylindrical tube120 is so mounted that it may be tipped forward as shown by dottedlines, its tipping movement being controlled by a wire rope 121 Whichpasses over a pulley 122 and down inside of the cylindrical tube llwhereits end is secured to the end of a piston rod which is reciprocated by apiston shown by dotted lines at 123. This piston may be reciprocated bypressure fluid supplied from a hydraulic or other system throughflexible piping entering the operating compartment through the casting107 in a manner well known.

The lazy tongs of the grab arm G are pivoted to bearing member 119 andto reciprocating bearing sleeves 124 and 125 slidable upon-the tube 120.A center bolt in sleeve 125 passes through the bars of the lazy tongs asshown and through slots 126 in the tube 120 within which it engages acrosshead indicated in dotted lines. This crosshead is connected to apiston rod carried by a piston indicated at 127, and the piston andhence the crosshead may be reciprocated by hydraulic pressure controlledby valves connected with the hydraulic system previously referred to.The long arm lazy tong mechanism G is shown in an extended position inFig. 7 with a hydraulic grab 128 carried at its outer end. Thishydraulic grab is similar to that described in more detail in myco-pending application for Submarine haivesting and recovery apparatus,Serial No. 568,373, led October 15, 1931. As this o-r any other suitabletype o i grab may be used I shall not describe it in further detailhere. The cable for supplying current to the electric lamp 17,previously described,

passes over pulleys placed Within the pairs of lazy tongs, as indicatedat 130, 131 and 132, and then passes through the cylindrical casting 107into the interior of the compartment. This Aarrangement of pulleys keepsthe cable in place at all times as the long arm is extended andretracted. As previously stated, suitable lookout windows, as indicatedat 133, enable an operator within the control compartment to extend thegrab to any desired position through the opening made in the side of theship and withdraw its cargo and drop it into the cargo-receivingreceptacle I, from which receptacle it may be picked up by other grabbuckets or the like operated from the surface vessel to which thesubmersible apparatus is attached, as shown more in detail in myco-pending application for patentY for Submarine salvage and recoveryapparatus, Serial No. 571,348, previously referred to.

I have found in my submarine Work that the field of vision is very muchlimited when looking through the usual eye ports, and as it isessentiall to have as large a field of vision as possible in anapparatus of this kind I provide lookout windows of the type shown indetail in Fig. 8. In this type of window a casting 134 is providedforming the female portion of aball-and-socket joint and adapted to besecured to the wall of an observation compartment. The male portion 135of the joint forms the eyeport frame and carries the glass 136. glasswhen the window is not being used, and this cover may be opened andclosed by a small cylinder 138 tted to the frame 135 and extendingthrough a hole drilled in glass 138, and provided with a piston andpiston rod to which is connected a link 140 pivoted to the cover 137 at141.

Fluid under pressure is admitted through pipeV 142 back of the piston tohold the cover closed,

and to open the coverto any desired position,

A hinged flap cover 137 protects thefluid from the pressure reservoir isadmitted into the cylinder in front of the piston. As the area of thepiston in front is greater than at the back, due to the presence of thepiston rod, the same uid pressure will cause the cover to .be opened toany desired extent. A three-way stop cock at 143 admits fluid to thefront of the piston or returns it to its sump tank. I may place aconcave mirror 144 on the inside of the flap cover, and glass 136 mayalso be of concave form, as shown, for the purpose of increasing thefield, as I nd that objects viewed through flat glass under water appearmuch magnified, with a reduction of eld as compared with that visiblewhen looking through air.

When under water, the hydrostatic pressure tends to hold the frame 135to its seat, but to give a further guarantee of watertightness I mayinstall a cup leather packing as shown at 145. I also install a concaveretaining ring 146 which is turned at the same radius as the outsideportion of the casting 134 and is Screwed onto piece 135 so as to clampthe partially spherical hollow section 134 between the frame piece 135and thus retaining ringl 146 with an easy turning fit.

Gear teeth are cut in the periphery of ring 146, and surrounding thering gear thus provided and carried it, I provide rings 147 and 148which, when bolted together over the ring gear form bearings for apinion 149. The assembled rings 147 and 143 are prevented from rotatingby jack screws 150, 151 and 152 which are threaded through the rings 147and 148 and bear against a curved footing piece 153. It is obvious thatby alternately releasing some of the jack screws and tightening others,the ball-shaped frame may be tipped in any direction to change the axisof the line of vision and thus increase the field of vision through thewindow opening. Assuming that the normal field of vision is 60 degrees,and the tipping movement allows about 20 degrees further vision in anydirection, then the possible eld of vision is increased to 100 degreesin a direct line from the normal axis of the eye port when in itscentral position. Now, by setting the cover 137 with its mirror 144 atan angle of 45 degrees, and rotating the frame 135 by turning the crankof pinion 149, it is evident that 360 degrees of vision may be had in acircular band surrounding the axis of the eye port when in its centralposition. Moreover, by varying the angle of the cover 137 and itsmirror,a field equal to one-half of a hollow sphere may be included. Therefore,two such windows placedin positions shown at 9 and 10 in Fig. 1, willenable the observers to secure practically an all-around View from theobservation compartment D.

In this apparatus I have provided mechanisms for cutting through thesides of a sunken ship and removing the cargo therefrom by power-appliedmechanical means to thus avoid, as far as possible, the well knowndangers incident to sending divers out in the usual dress, and althoughI have described in detail yvarious structural features and combinationsof mechanism whereby the desired results may be obtained, it is to beunderstood that I do not consider my invention as limited thereto, forthe reason that various changes may be made without departing from thespirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a submarine salvage and recovery apparatus, a submersible tubularmember provided with bulkheads or partitions providing a diverscompartment and an air lock, and a plurality of compartmentsintermediate same, and a passageway affording direct communicationbetween said divers compartment and said air lock, and doors aiordingcommunication between said passageway and said intermediatecompartments.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim l, in which means are provided forisolating said divers compartment from said passageway and air lock.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which a portion of thesubmersible tubular member affords a means of communication between saiddivers compartment and a surface vessel, the means of communicationincluding said air lock, and means for closing such communicationincluding a sealing hatch for said air lock, whereby the air lock,passageway, intermediate compartments and divers compartment areisolated from the surface vessel.

4. In a submarine salvage and recovery apparatus, a submersible tubularmember provided with means for rotatably connecting it with an attendingvessel, tool carrying means associated with said tubular member andadapted for operation upon submerged objects, and means for rotatingsaid tubular member upon its longitudinal axis to bring said tools intooperative position.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the means for rotating saidtubular member comprises a gear member rotatably carried by the tubularmember and anchored to the attending vessel, and a gear member iixedlycarried by the tubular member and cooperating with the other gear memberand operable from within the tubular member to turn the same relativelyto said other gear member.

6. In a submarine salvage and recovery apparatus, a submersible memberproviding a compartment adapted to receive workmen and protect them fromthe surroundingwater, a derrick arranged exteriorly of said workingcompartment and supported by said submersible member, said derrickincluding a pair of supporting members hingedly connected at their lowerends, one of said supporting members carried by said submersible memberfor rotation with respect to its longitudinal axis and also upon an axisnormal thereto, and the other supporting member carrying an extensiblearm and angularly adjustable upon its hinge connection relatively to theother supporting member, and means associated with said supportingmembers and operable from within said compartment for imparting desiredmovement to said supporting members and to said extensible arm.

7. In a submarine salvage and recovery apparatus, a submersible memberproviding a compartment adapted to receive workmen and protect them fromthe surrounding water, a toolcarrying compartment member, meansincluding a tubular element providing a connection between saidcompartment and said tool-carrying member and affording communicationtherebetween, a swivel connection between said tubular element and saidsubmersible member whereby the former may be swung in any directionrelatively to the latter, means connecting said swivel connection andtubular element whereby the latter may be rotated relatively to theformer, and means for projecting and retracting said toolcarrying memberwith respect to said tubular' element, and means for rotating saidtool-carrying member relatively to said tubular element, whereby thetool-carrying member may be brought into appropriate positio-n foroperation of its tools and any tool carried by it may be properlypositioned with respect to the work.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which means operable from withinsaid compartment, tubular element and tool-carrying member are providedfor imparting the desired movements to these said parts.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim '7, including Y means carried by saidtubular element for detachably connecting same with a sunken object,whereby the tools of the tool-carrying member may be maintained inoperative position with respect to the work.

l0. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including means carried by saidtubular element for detachably connecting same with a sunken object formaintaining the tools of the tool-carrying member in operative positionwith respect to the work, said detachable connecting means including agripping device axially aligned with said swivel connection, whereby theswivel connection and gripping device may act as relatively iixed pivotpoints for rotation of said tubular element.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including means carried by saidtubular element for detachably connecting same with a sunken object formaintaining the tools of the tool-carrying member in operative positionwith respect to the work, said detachable connecting means includinggripping devices which are extensible and retractable relatively to thetubular element, whereby tools carried by said tool-carrying member maybe advanced to and backed oi from the work.

12. In a submarine salvage and recovery apparatus, a submersible memberprovided with a lookout window comprising a ball and socket type ofuniversally adjustable cooperating members, including a fixed framemember attached to the submersible member and provided with sphericalinterior and exterior surfaces, and connected interior and exteriorframe members cooperating with and intimately engaging the interior andexterior spherical surfaces of the xed frame member, one of saidconnected frame members provided with a glazed sight opening.

13. Apparatus as claimed in claim l2, in which the sight opening isprovided with a movable cover.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim l2, in which separate means areprovided for rotating and oscillating the connected frame membersrelatively to the xed frame member.

SIMON LAKE.

